SUBACUTE TOXICITY, HORMONAL EFFECTS AND HPLC PHYTOCHEMICALANALYSIS OF SPONDIAS MOMBIN LEAF EXTRACT IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Uterine fibroids are benign growths in the uterus that commonly develop during a woman’s reproductive years.
Since estrogen and progesterone play a key role in fibroid development, researchers have explored herbal treatments
that may help regulate these hormones. This study investigated the safety profile and effects of ethanol extract of
Spondias mombin Linn (Anacardiaceae) leaves on serum estradiol and progesterone levels in female Wistar rats.
Wistar rats were administered the plant extract in graded doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 28 days after which blood
samples and organs were collected for toxicity studies and hormonal assay. Additionally, High-Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) was employed to identify bioactive compounds in the extract. The extract did not
significantly alter adversely, any of the tested biochemical and hematological parameters. It induced minimal toxic
damage to the selected tissues of the rats. The biochemical assay showed that Spondias mombin extract did not
significantly (P>0.05) reduce serum estradiol levels. The doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg decreased serum progesterone
by 39.52 % and 39.26 % respectively. HPLC analysis identified several bioactive compounds such as caryophyllene,
quercetin, kaempferol, gallic acid, and β-sitosterol. This result shows that Spondias mombin leaves are relatively
safe and suggests that they have potential antiprogestogenic activity that warrants further study.